Some Rambling / Dragon Age Origins
So I started one walkthrough not realizing it was never completed and then I tried another and - long story short, I'm trying not to go through all the possible new stuff should I buy the game.

However I do have this little thing that's been nibbling at me. Basically, has anyone else (someone who's looked at walkthroughs or played the game) had the thought that DA:O is a bit like The Lord Of The Rings meets Legends of The Fallen Angels?

Cast out from heaven, banished to earth, running around with burning hearts of vengeance and a desire to do evil. Does this make DA:O's Trolls, the giant offspring of the fallen + man?

Anyway, at least to the part where I'd stopped/halted the walkthrough process, I found myself feeling somewhat.... disappointed? Something. There was all this hype (I suppose I should call it now) about how in depth and different and amazing DA:O is and now I find myself wondering if it's because it puts a plot to the 'Let's go down this corridor, fight everything in sight, and take things w/o asking from glowing chests & storage'.

You see, the story seems, well, rather Tolkeinsque to me; we must gather these people, under our banner to halt Mordor the Darkspawn & Arch Demon. So let's go around collecting them, and doing favours to get them to agree to come help us. I've never before thought of the Battle of Helmsdeep as a quest to earn the allegiance of the Riders of Rohan. But this most recent experience has gone and shifted my perspective.

Of course the first walkthrough I watched, didn't allow me to hear the party banter or do any camp stops (which doubtless changes the experience if not the storyline). And I did find that thinking of the cut-scenes as goals would likely get me through most of the hack and slash. And up to the point where I'd stopped my viewing, I'd observed only two areas likely to give me problems (personally) when I played. One being somewhat triggering and the other just AMAZINGLY BORING. It's good to be prepared for that.

But, uhm, is this the definition of epic fantasy (whether or not it's DARK EPIC FANTASY) - gather allies into an army for a big show down?

Meanwhile; Zombies. Battles. with. zombies. Can I actually spend money to have to deal for who knows how many hours, with battles. with. zombies.